Forty-five years after Victoria’s worst workplace disaster, a group of families, friends and workers will gather today to remember the 35 construction workers who died when the Westgate Bridge collapsed.

An invention that eliminates the need for divers to cut steel piles under water, a country school which promotes farm safety, and a health program which allows older workers to carry out their duties to their full potential are among the finalists in the 2015 WorkSafe Victoria Awards.

A world leader in mental health care, an expert in dealing with major emergencies, a young sportsman who recovered from a catastrophic workplace injury to excel as an athlete, experts in pain management, and some of Victoria’s leading businesspeople are among the keynote speakers at Health and Safety Week.